Event Details

CUESA has organized a very special field-to-jar experience with Dirty Girl Produce and Happy Girl Kitchen Co., complete with strawberry harvesting and a jam making workshop.

Our harvest will take place at Dirty Girl Produce, a small organic family farm in Watsonville that grows a wide variety of produce. A long-time fixture at the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market, Dirty Girl has 25 acres of fruits and vegetables on three properties. Farmer Joe Schirmer will show us around one of his fields and talk about how he has adapted the French Intensive gardening method into his farming practices. Then he will demonstrate proper berry picking techniques and we’ll get to try our hands at strawberry harvesting (the u-pick is an additional cost).

Next we’ll head over to Happy Girl Kitchen Co., known for their organic pickles and preserves. We’ll enjoy a soup and sandwich lunch made at the cafe. Owner Todd Champagne will tell us the story of his business and teach us some basics about preserving; then we’ll get to work making strawberry jam with Dirty Girl berries. Each attendee will go home with a jar of strawberry jam, a recipe, and instructions.

The tour and class are geared toward adults. Young people who are interested in attending with their parents and who are likely to enjoy the tour and class without causing disruption are welcome. Please use your discretion and call if you have questions.

Included: The tour costs $40, including lunch, snacks, round-trip transportation from the Ferry Building in a comfortable, air-conditioned bus, a jam making class, and a jar of strawberry jam.

Extras: U-pick strawberries will be available for purchase at Dirty Girl, as well as pre-picked flats for jam-making. Happy Girl Kitchen’s Cafe is brimming with preserved goods and canning supplies, all available for purchase. Be sure to bring cash for these opportunities!

Where to meet: In front of the Ferry Building, south end, near Market Bar. Be there by 8:30; we leave at 8:45 am sharp. Please be prompt! We cannot wait for stragglers.

What to bring: water bottle, sun protection (sunscreen, hat, long sleeves), layered clothing, Also consider bringing snacks, a camera, a book or other entertainment for the bus (it’s going to be a long ride), cash for purchases.

Notes: The weather could be very dry and hot, or it could be cool. The bus is air conditioned. The tour will involve a fair amount of walking on uneven and muddy ground, so be prepared with sturdy shoes that can get dirty. We will do our best to return by 6:00 pm, but traffic conditions can be unpredictable and we can't guarantee punctual arrival.

This tour is organized by CUESA, the Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture, as part of our mission to cultivate a sustainable food system. CUESA organizes 6 tours each year to Ferry Plaza Farmers Market farms and artisan food businesses in order to give eaters a first-hand look at where their food comes from and how it is produced. For more information or to sign up for our weekly email newsletter, visit www.cuesa.org.